Gender on the Basis of Orlando by Virginia Woolf & Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx - Essay Example

Cultural depicture of gender on the basis of “Orlando “by Virginia Woolf & “Brokeback Mountain” by Annie Proulx. Virginia Woolf was the first woman who discovered enough talent, passion, and courage to become a prominent writer, which was itself regarded as a challenge. Virginia was born in 1882 and grew up at the time when gender roles were strictly stipulated by the society. Women were supposed to be at home, while men were brought up for the world (Winterson, 2012). But for Virginia creativity as well as love was beyond gender divisions and prejudices. It is capturing that it is love affair with a woman,Vita Sackville-West, that inspired Woolf for writing a half-autobiographical, fantastic novel “Orlando”. At that time women had passionate relationship, approved by their husbands, and Virginia decided to make a beautiful gift to her lover. However, she made a gift not only to Vita, but to herself and her readers. “Orlando” is a story of a young androgynous man, who lives a noble life close to the Queen Elizabeth. After a range of disappointments and struggles Orlando rediscovers himself as a woman. The phenomenon of gender transformation is introduced by Virginia easily and naturally as like she used to know what it meant to be a man and a woman at the same time. From the very beginning of the novel Woolf emphasize androgynous nature of Orlando, in other words, having both male and female features. To Virginia this meant broader boundaries rather than limitations as she was persuaded that male and female parts have to coexist in the person: “For here again, we come to a dilemma. Different though the sexes are, they intermix. In every human being a vacillation from one sex to the other takes place, and often it is only the clothes that keep the male or female likeness, while underneath the sex is the very opposite of what it is above” (Woolf, 1992). By turning Orlando into woman Woolf not only tries to distinguish the peculiarities basically associated with each gender but also questions this choice. Bright, intelligent, and brave woman was trying to say that the person has to have option to choose among the qualities close to his/her personality, as she did. From these quotes it becomes evident that the author mocks general perception of gender: “If Orlando was a woman, how did she never take more than ten minutes to dress?” or “she could drink with the best and liked games of hazard” or “it was to each such a revelation that a woman could be as tolerant and free - spoken as a man, and a man as strange and subtle as a woman” (Woolf, 1992) Thus, for Virginia Woolf gender roles were strictly presupposed by society, which in its turn was influenced by political and social norms. Her hero, Orlando, understands social expectations and acts according to the needs of the society at the moment when he becomes a woman: “she was beginning to be aware that women should be shocked when men display emotion in their presence, and so, shocked she was (Woolf, 1992). For that age when Orlando rediscovers himself as a woman each lady had to be labeled with status. It was allowed to be a virgin, a wife or a widow. For Orlando as a woman it was impossible to lead political carrier, to have a gorgeous mansion, and to be single at the same time. Woolf describes with certain irony the fact that Orlando was pitied for being single, and society rushed her to find a husband. Here Woolf introduces the concept of cross-dressing, which also serves as a reminder of Virginia`s lover, Vita, who used to flirt with women wearing men`s clothes. Woolf emphasizes that Orlando had the choice of clothes, of social behavior, and of qualities but the author refers to the symbol of clothes mostly: “The difference between the sexes is, happily, one of great profundity. Clothes are but a symbol of something hid deep beneath. It was a change in Orlando herself that dictated her choice of a womans dress and of a womans sex. And perhaps in this she was only expressing rather more openly than usual-openness indeed was the soul of her nature-something that happens to most people without being thus plainly expressed” (Woolf, 1992). In conclusion it is possible to say that for such an ingenious woman as Virginia Woolf mind was purely androgynous, and gender peculiarities were dictated by the norms imposed by the society. In her novel Virginia broke historical, sexual, and cultural constraints and prejudices regarding gender roles and managed to develop herself (taking into account that the work was conceived as autobiographical) as a wholesome personality which is allowed to mix male and female parts regardless of the epoch. Annie Proulox tackled even more complicated topic of masculinity in gay relationship in her “Brokeback mountain”. The complexity of the subject was also stipulated by the choice of the place and time of narration. Wild West, Texas in particular, at the end of the 60-s was not the best place to reveal homosexual relationship as the society considered such people unworthy living and punished them severely. The image of the real man from Texas is still implemented into consciousness of most Americans. Cowboys are tough, brave, masculine heroes who can ride horses and bulls and perform difficult physical labor. They are also easily involved into fights with other man as imposing force serves as another symbol of masculinity. It is capturing that the main characters of “Brokeback mountain” being in homosexual relationships embody pure masculinity. They are extremely manly, with rough speech, eager to drink, having typical male interests, professions, and lifestyles. Both grew up in rural area under a supervision of strict parents. Ennis is the man ready to work hard physically and develop as a typical western hero. Jack is still trying to meet his father`s expectations with the help of farming and rodeo. When they suddenly realize mutual mental and sexual attraction they simply accept it as it is: “As it did go. They never talked about the sex, let it happen, at first only in the tent at night, then in the full daylight with the hot sun striking down, and at evening in the fire glow, quick, rough, laughing and snorting, no lack of noises” (Proulux, 1). They remain masculine even having sexual relationship, which is not typical to normal gay couples. They do not show tenderness or express feeling towards each other as they simply cannot believe that it could happen to them, so masculine and normal. Proulux emphasizes their denial of feminine side in their talks and gestures: “and they shook hands, hit each other on the shoulder, then there was forty feet of distance between them and nothing to do but drive away in opposite directions” or “…saying not a goddamn word except once Ennis said, “I’m not no queer,” and Jack jumped in with “Me neither” (Proulux, 2) Nevertheless, it takes years for them to realize that their connection is really deep and meaningful, and that homosexual relationship attracts them more than heterosexual as they do not feel the same to their wives. According to Keller, the heroes still do not accept their “gay” personalities even after realizing their mutual tragic love. The failure of self acceptance can be explained by inability to reconcile common gay stereotypes with their images of themselves as men and subsequent lifestyles (Keller & Goodwin, 2008). Thus, gender turns out to be a complicated concept in literature as it is affected by social and cultural influence. There exist certain expectations regarding lifestyle, qualities, and occupation for both men and women imposed by the society. Sometimes real people are not able to meet these expectations, which results in a clash with public norms. Nevertheless, the process of self-development and self-acceptance is a long, complicated and even mystical way which allows female and male roles shift. References Keller, J & Jones, A. (2008). Brokeback Mountain: masculinity and manhood. Studies in popular culture, 30, 2008. Proulx, A. Brokeback Mountain. (1997). The New Yorker, 55, 1-3. Winterson, J. (1992). Introduction to Orlando by Virginia Woolf. Orlando. London: Penguin Books. Woolf, Virginia. (1992). A Room of One’s Own. London: Penguin Books. Woolf, Virginia. (1993).Orlando. Ed. Brenda Lyons. London: Penguin Books. Read More